Jacket and core member torch tip assembly



INVENTOR I/mm "Qt/Y6K ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,042,196 Patented July 3, 1962 3,042,106 JACKET AND CORE MEMBER TORCH TIP ASSEMBLY Ephraim Werner, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed May 16, 1956, Ser. No. 585,210 7 Claims. (Cl. 158-27.4)

This invention relates to a torch tip for any standard cutting torch with which natural gas at ordinary low houseline pressures of approximately 0.5 pound per square inch can be used as the preheating fuel gas thereby obviating the necessity for keeping a tank of preheating fuel gas such as propane or butane present at all times at which the torch is to be used. Further, should such fuel gas as propane or butane or like gases be used, the use of the instant torch tip will enable the operator to exhaust completely a tank of said fuel gas thereby reducing tank wastage to obtain greater fuel gas economy.

The expressions any standard cutting torch and a standard cutting torch refer to cutting torches ordinarily used in the art, said cutting torches being of such construction that torch tips can be readily replaced therein.

Heretofore, with torch tip assemblies for standard cutting torches the utilization of natural gas, at the ordinary low houseline pressures as the preheating fuel gas has not been possible, and it has been necessary to carry along to each job a separate tank, or separate tanks, of preheating fuel gas. Also, with the torch tip assembly of this invention, it is possible to utilize such a preheating fuel gas as propane or butane in such a manner as to exhaust the gas tank completely, thereby preventing tank wastage to attain ultimate economy of operation. In the torch tip assembly here there is what is referred to as a tip mixing operation in that the preheating fuel gas and the preheat oxygen are mixed within the tip proper rather than in the head of the cutting torch.

The torch tip of this invention can be fitted and seated securely into the head of any standard type cutting torch and includes a jacketed core member having an intermediate annular mixing chamber in communication with forwardly positioned passageways opening into, and inclined towards, a forward chamber communicating with the atmosphere and in communication with an injector type preheating fuel gas and preheating oxygen gas introductory means postioned rearwardly of the said mixing chamber and integral with the torch tip. The torch tip construction is such that natural gas at standard commercial low house-line pressures can be utilized as the preheating fuel gas which can be so utilized without flashing back or back firing with the resultant propagation of the flame to the interior of the tip and torch head. The torch tip construction is also such that a minimum of drilling is required to form the required gas passage means and that a maximum of gas passage means are provided to insure the proper high issuing velocities required with natural gas as a preheating fuel gas.-

An object of this invention is to provide a torch tip for a standard cutting torch in which natural gas at the standard low commercial house-line pressures can be used as the preheating fuel gas.

Another object of this invention is to provide a torch tip for a standard cutting torch which can be easily and economically manufactured and with which natural gas at the standard low commercial house-line pressures can be used as the preheating fuel gas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a torch tip adapted to be fitted and secured in the head of a standard cutting torch, and including an injector type preheating fuel gas and preheating oxygen gas introductory means within the torch tip.

Other objects and features will become readily apparent from the following detailed description which is illustrative of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the torch tip assembly of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of the torch tip assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion A of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end View of the torch tip assembly taken in the direction of the arrow B in FIGURE 2.

The torch tip of this invention can be fitted into the head 10 of a standard type cutting torch and be secured thereinto by means of the tip nut 12 threadedly engaged with said head, the head 10 and the tip nut 12 being shown in the dotted lines in FIGURE 2.

The torch tip assembly 14 comprises core member 16 having a central axial cutting oxygen gas bore 18 thererthrough having a forward portion 20 of smaller crosssectional area than the remaining portion 22. The forward portion 24 of the core member 16 is tapered and has longitudinally milled grooves or slots 260 in the eve terior surface of the tapered portion 24, which is on a straight-line taper for it length, each of said slots 01' grooves extending from the points of the beginning of the tapered portion 24 to the end of the core member 16, each of said slots or grooves being spaced radially of the central axis of the core member 16, as clearly shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4.

At the extreme rear portion of the core member 16 is a radially extending ring portion 26 preferably integral therewith and having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined surface 28 constituting one of the seats for positioning the torch tip 14 in the cutting torch head 10. Spaced from said ring portion 26 by a first annular groove 3i in the core member exterior surface is a second radially extending ring portion 32 preferably integral therewith having two rearwardly and downwardly inclined shoulder portions 34 and 36 spaced from one another by a second annular groove 38, said shoulder portions 34 and 36 likewise constituting seats for positioning, together with seat 28, the torch tip 14 in the cutting torch head 10. Upon the fitting of the torch tip 14 in the head 10 and upon the securing of the tip therein, the annular grooves 30 and 38 form preheating fuel gas chamber 49 and preheating oxygen gas chamber 42, respectively, chamber 40* being connected to the preheating fuel gas, here, natural gas, source through the head 10 and the torch proper of which the head is a part, and chamber 42 being connected to the preheating oxygengas source through the head 10 and the torch proper. Chamber 44 connects the cutting oxygen gas passageway 18 with the cutting oxygen gas source through the head 10 and the torch proper.

Positioned about the core member 16 is the jacket member 46 extending beyond the forwardmost portion 48 of the core member 16 to form the forward chamber 50 of the tip 14 open to the atmosphere. The jacket member 46 has at its rearmost portion a radially extending flange 52 integral therewith and engaging the forwardmost surface 54 of the second ring portion 32, the rearrnost surface 56 of the flange 52 being inwardly tapered toward the inner wall 58 of the jacket member 46 and the foremost surface 54 of said ring portion 32 being tapered upwardly from approximately the outer surface 60 of the intermediate portion 62 of the core member 16 to the uppermost portion 64 of said ring portion 32, thereby allowing the perfect seating of the jacket member 46 against the ring portion 32 when the tip nut 12 abutting the flange 52 secures the torch tip 14 in the cutting torch head 10, as clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The jacket member 46 is spaced from the intermediate portion 62 of the core member 16, thereby forming an annular mixing chamber 66, and engages the forward tapered portion 24 of the core member 16, thereby forming a plurality of longitudinally positioned passageways with the slots or grooves 260 which are spaced radially of the central axis of core member 16, said so-formed passageways being in communication with the annular mixing chamber 66 and with the forward chamber 56, as clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The said slots or grooves 260 are preferably V-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIGURE 4, thus preferably forming passageways of V-shaped cross-section, and may also be semicircular in cross-section to form passageways of semicircular cross-section. The outer surface 68 of the jacket member 46 at the forward portion 70 thereof is preferably tapered in conformance with the forward tapered portion 24of the core member 16, and the inner surface 72 of jacket member 46 is also tapered for that portion thereof engaging the tapered portion 24- of core member 16. The surface portion 74 of the inner surface 72 forming the inner wall of forward chamber 50' is substantially parallel to the central axis of the core member 16, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2.

The second ring portion 32 has therethrough a plurality of longitudinally positioned preheating fuel gas passageways 76 spaced radially of the central axis of the core member 16 communicating at each of the respective outlet openings 78 with the annular mixing chamber and at each of the respective inlet openings Sllwith the first annular groove 30 forming the chamber 40'. The cross-sectional area of the forward portion 82 of each passageway 76 is greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion 84 thereof. The ring portion 32 also has therethrough a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways 86 extending from and in communication with the annular groove 38 and the forward portion 82, each of said passageways 86 having its inlet opening 88 positioned in the bottom portion of groove 38, forming chamber'42, and its outlet opening 90 in the wall of the forward portion 82 of the respective passageway '7 6, preferably at that portion thereof nearer to the rear portion 84 than to the outlet opening 78. The cross-sectional area of each of said passageways 86 is preferably greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion 84 and smaller than the cross-sectional area of the forward portion 82.

The gas passageways 18, 76, and 86 are all preferably of circular cross-section and may be formed by the wellknown drilling operations. The core member 16 is also preferably of circular cross-section as is the jacket mem ber 46.

The torch tip assembly 14 is fitted into and secured in the head of a standard cutting torch by means of the seats 28, 34, and 36 which engage seat receiving means in the head and by tightening of the tip nut 12. Natural gas at low standard commercial house-line pressures of approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge is introduced into chamber 40 and then into passageway 76 at opening 80, and preheating oxygen gas at a pressure of approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge is introduced into chamber 42 and then into passageway 86. Because of the rear portion 84 of passageway 76 being smaller in cross-sectional area than the forward portion 82, the velocity of the natural gas decreases upon entering forward portion 82, and because of the forward portion 82 being greater in cross-sectional area than the passageway 8'6, the velocity of the preheating oxygen gas decreases upon entering forward portion 82 through inlet opening 90. Thus, the mixing of the preheating oxygen gas and the preheating fuel gas introduced at low houseline pressure is initiated immediately upon contact in the forward portion 82 of passageway 76, and the velocities of each of the two preheat gases and of the mixture thereof are further decreased upon entering the annular mixing chamber 66, in which a complete mixing of the preheating oxygen gas and of the preheating fuel gas is accomplished. Upon entering the passageways formed by the slots or grooves 26 in the tapered forward portion 24, the velocity of the preheating gas mixture is increased with respect to the gas velocity in the mixing chamber 66, and there is obtained the required high issuing velocity of gas mixture.

Many alterations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is set forth in the appended claims which are to be construed as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising, in combination, a core member having a central axial bore therethrough, said core member having an exterior tapered portion adjacent one end thereof and a radially extending ring member adjacent the other end thereof, said ring member being integral with said core and having, on the outer surface thereof, a means for seating the tip in the torch head and having an annular groove adapted to form a gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said tapered portion of said core member having spaced longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof extending from the points of the beginning of said tapered portion to the one end of said core member, a jacket member positioned about, and extended beyond the said one end of, said core member in spaced relationship therewith along the portion of said core member between said ring member and the points of the beginning of said tapered portion, whereby an annular chamber is formed between the outer surface of said portion of said core member and the inner wall of said jacket, and engaging the tapered portion of said core member, whereby the inner wall of the jacket defines with said grooves in the surface of said tapered portion a plurality of spaced passageways, said jacket having a radially extending flange integral therewith engaging the ring member, said ring member having a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned passageways therethrough, each of said passageways having a rear portion and a forward portion, said rear portion communicating and contiguous with said forward portion, said forward portion communicating with said annular chamber, the cross-sectional area of said forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of said rear portion, said ring member having a plurality of spaced passageways extending therethrough, each of said passageways being in communication with both the said annular groove and with each of the said longitudinally positioned passageways at the forward portion thereof, the crosssectional area of each of said latter passageways being greater than the cross-sectional area of said rear portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of saidforward portion, whereby there is provided a torch tip to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture within the torch tip.

2. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising, a core member having a central axial cutting oxygen gas passageway therethrough, said core member :being tapered at the forward portion thereof and having a radially extending ring portion at the rear portion thereof, said ring portion including a means for seating the tip in the torch head and an annular groove adapted to form a preheating oxygen gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said forward portion of the core member having spaced. longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof, a jacket positioned about the forward portion of and the portion intermediate the forward and rear portions of the core member and extending beyond the forward portion of the core member, the inner wall of. said jacket being. spaced from the said intermediate portion of said core member, whereby an annular chamber is formed between the outer surface of the intermediate portion of said core member and the inner jacket wall, and engaging the forward portion of the core member, whereby a plurality of spaced passageways are formed between the inner jacket wall and the forward portion of the core member, said jacket being in engagement with the ring portion, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned fuel gas passageways therethrough, each of said passageways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with both the said annular groove and with each respective fuel gas passageway at the forward portion thereof, the cross-sectional area of each of said preheating oxygen gas passageways being greater than the cross-sectional area of said rear portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of said forward portion, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

3. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising a core member having a central axial cutting gas passageway therethrough, said core member being tapered at the forward portion thereof and having a first radially extending ring portion at the rearmost portion thereof, said first ring portion including a first means for seating the tip in the torch head, said core member having a second radially extending ring portion at the rear portion thereof in spaced relationship with said first ring portion, said second ring portion including a second means for seating the tip in the torch head and a first annular groove adapted to form a preheating oxygen gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said core member having a second annular groove between said first ring portion and said second ring portion adapted to form a fuel gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said forward portion of the core member having spaced longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof, a jacket positioned about the forward portion of and the portion intermediate the forward and rear portions of the core member and extending beyond the forward portion of the core member, the inner wall of said jacket being spaced from the said intermediate portion of said core member, whereby an annular mixing chamber for mixing of the preheating oxygen gas and the fuel gas is formed between the outer surface of the intermediate portion of said core member and the inner jacket wall, and engaging the forward portion of the core member, whereby a plurality of spaced passageways are formed between the inner jacket wall and the forward portion of the core member and are in communication with said annular chamber, said jacket being in engagement with said second ring portion, said second ring portion having a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned fuel gas passageways therethrough, said passageways being spaced radially of the longitudinal axis of said core member, each of said passageways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the rear portion being in communication with the second annular groove and the forward portion being in communication with the annular mixing chamber, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion, said second ring portion having a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with both the said second annular groove and with each respective fuel gas passageway at the forward portion thereof, the cross-sectional area of each of said preheating oxygen gas passageways being greater than the cross-sectional area of said rear portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of said forward portion, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

10 4. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising a core member having a central axial cutting oxygen gas passageway therethrough, said core member being tapered at the forward portion thereof and having a radially extending ring portion at the rear portion thereof, said ring portion including a means for seating the tip in the torch head and an annular groove adapted to form a preheating oxygen gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said forward portion of the core member having spaced longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof, a jacket positioned about the forward portion of and the portion intermediate the said forward and said rear portions of the core member and extending beyond the forward portion of the core member, the inner Wall of said jacket being spaced from the said intermediate portion of said core member, whereby an annular chamber is formed between the outer surface of the in termediate portion of said core member and the inner jacket wall, and engaging the forward portion of the core member, whereby a plurality of spaced passageways are formed between the inner jacket and the forward portion of the core member, said jacket being in engagement with the ring portion, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending fuel gas passageways therethrough, each of said pasasgeways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with both the said annular groove and with each respective fuel gas passageway at the forward portion thereof, each of said preheating oxygen gas passageways having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the forward portion of each of the fuel gas passageways and larger than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion of each of the fuel gas passageways, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

5. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising a core member having a central axial cutting oxygen gas passageway therethrough, said core member being tapered at the forward portion thereof and having a first radially extending ring portion 0 at the rearmost portion thereof, said first ring portion including a first means for seating the tip in the torch head, said core member having a second radially extending ring portion at the :rear portion thereof in spaced relationship with said first ring portion, said second ring 5 portion including a second means for seating the tip in the torch head and a first annular groove adapted to form a preheating oxygen gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said core member having a second annular groove between said first ring portion 7 and said second ring portion adapted to form a fuel gas chamber upon the seating of the tip within the torch head, said forward portion of the core member having spaced longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof, a jacket positioned about the forward portion of and the portion intermediate the forward and rear portions of the core member and extending beyond the forward portion of the core member, the inner wall of said jacket being spaced from the said intermediate portion of said core member, whereby an annular mixing chamber for mixing of the preheating oxygen gas and the fuel gas is formed between the outer surface of tl intermediate portion of said core member and the inner jacket wall, and engaging the forward portion of the core member, whereby a plurality of spaced passageways are formed between the inner jacket and the forward portion of the core member and are in communication with said annular chamber, said jacket being in engagement with said second ring portion, said second ring portion having a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned fuel gas passageways therethrough, said passageways being spaced radially of the longitudinal axis of said core member, each of said passaegways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the rear portion being in communication with the second annular groove and the forward portion being in communication with the annular mixing chamber, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion, said second ring portion having a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with both the said second annular groove and with each respective fuel gas passageway at the forward portion thereof, each of said preheating oxygen gas passageways having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the forward portion of each of the fuel gas passageways and larger than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion of each of the fuel gas passageways, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

6. A torch tip adapted to be fitted into a standard cutting torch head comprising, in combination, a core member having a central axial cutting oxygen gas passageway and a tapered forward portion having longitudinally positioned grooves in the surface thereof and a radially extending ring portion including an annular groove, a jacket positioned around said core member in spaced relationship with the portion of the core member intermediate the tapered forward portion and the rear ring portion and in engagement with said forward portion, whereby an annular mixing chamber in communication with a plurality of longitudinally positioned passageways is formed, and in engagement with said ring portion, said jacket extending beyond said core member, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned fuel gas passageways therethrough, each of said passageways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the crosssectional area of the rear portion, said ring portion having a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with said annular groove and with each of the respective fuel gas passageways at the forward portion thereof, the cross sectional area of each of said preheating oxygen gas passageways being greater than the cross-sectional area of said rear portion and smaller than the cross-sectional area of said forward portion, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

7. A jacket and core member torch tip assembly adapted to be fitted into a standard torch head, said core member having a central axial cutting oxygen gas passageway, said assembly comprising a tapered for-ward portion having longitudinally positioned passageways and a forward chamber in communication with said cutting oxygen gas passageway and with said longitudinally positioned passageways, an intermediate portion having an annular mixing chamber in communication with said longitudinally positioned passageways, and a rear portion including an annular groove, a plurality of spaced longitudinally positioned fuel gas passageways therethrough, each of said passageways having a rear portion in communication with a forward portion, said rear portion and said forward portion of each of said passageways being contiguous, the cross-sectional area of the forward portion being greater than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion, a plurality of spaced preheating oxygen gas passageways, each extending therethrough in communication with said annular groove and with each of the respective fuel gas passageways at the forward portion thereof, the crosssectional area of each of the preheating oxygen gas passageways being smaller than the cross-sectional area of the forward portion of each of the fuel gas passageways and larger than the cross-sectional area of the rear portion of the fuel gas passageways, whereby there is provided a torch tip having an injector type mixing means therewithin to use natural gas at approximately 0.5 pound per square inch gauge together with oxygen gas at approximately 50 pounds per square inch gauge to form a preheat gas mixture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,624,377 Walker Apr. 12, 1927 1,971,287 Walker Aug. 21, 1934 1,977,782 Thomas Oct. 23, 1934 2,100,384 Deming NOV. 30, 1937 2,378,346 Wigton June 12, 1945 2,380,570 Babcock July 21, 1945 2,397,349 Hartung Mar. 26, 1946 2,468,824 Hughey May 3, 1949 

